(21 Jul 1996) English/Nat
The return of the bodies of two Israeli soldiers has ended the despair of their relatives, and raised the hopes of others in the same situation.
The deal, arranged by a German mediator, saw the remains of two Israelis who died in 1986 exchanged for more than a hundred Lebanese Hezbollah bodies and 45 prisoners.
Another four Israeli servicemen have never been accounted for.
Israeli soldiers Rahamim Alsheikh and American-born Yosef Fink were seized by Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon in 1986 and died in captivity.
On Saturday, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah called the deal an advanced step on the road to resolving the issue of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
Josef Fink's mother expressed a mixture of relief and sorrow at the return of her son's body.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
We have had a very difficult day today. We can say we're happy... not really happy, because at the same time we're really sad, because it's a very final thing, we're closing something which started ten.. ten and a half years ago. And it's very final now we know there's no more hope. On the other hand we're pleased to bring our son back home and he should be near us.
SUPER CAPTION: Hadassah Fink, mother of Josef
Also relieved by the return of the soldier's remains was lawyer Ori Slonim who has been pressing for the return of the soldiers since they were first captured.
SOUNDBITE: English
We are fully thanking the German government, especially the chancellor and Minister Schmidbauer. We think that this is unfinished business and we would like the whole thing to be completed by seeing all our sons back with this generous help of this government of Germany.
SUPER CAPTION: Ori Slonim, lawyer
Nearly eleven years of confusion may be at an end for Josef Fink's mother, but others are still waiting.
Navigator Ron Arad was captured in 1986 - it is not known whether he is dead or alive, but Israel claims he is still in captivity and in Iranian hands.
The family of Zacharia Baumel -- an Israeli soldier also missing since 1982 -- said they hope the swap will lead them to their son.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Our son was captured in June 1982 in a tank battle in the Eastern Bekaa Valley of Lebanon during the peace for Gallilee operation. Whereas we don't have any hard facts about the location of our son, we have a great deal of information from many different sources that our son and at least one of the other two missing soldiers is still alive. It's a pity that the other side doesn't come forward and make overtures towards an exchange. In the exchange today between the Hezbollah and the Israeli forces, Israel received the bodies of two soldiers. The Hezbollah received not only bodies of many live prisoners in exchange, and the joy in the Arab families is far greater than the joy in the Israeli families.
SUPER CAPTION: Yona Baumel, father of Zacharia
Another two soldiers - also captured in the Bekaa Valley in 1982 - are missing, presumed dead. But while negotiation is possible the hope of the families will stay alive.
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